IMO we should not be signing anyone mid-season. Our last signing Cameron Phelps was a poor one and with the emergence of Sean Ainscough Brian Noble and Ian Lenegan have got egg on their face because it makes them look ridiculous for signing a reserve NRL grader who brings nothing to the team that we didn't already have in our reserves and takes up a quota spot as well. I could understand he was cover for Karl Pryce for a season but this season he'll prove a waste. Richie Mathers the same - Why extend these players contracts?

The best signings are not made mid-season. (I add Mr. Fielden to that list). Unless we get a serious injury crisis we should just stick with the squad we have got and concentrate on recruitment for 2010.

Agree with you there

Even if we got someone in the wrong people would be dropped (ainy , sam etc) and there is no chance of the likes of Smith and Phelps being released so I think we should concerntrate on getting a prop, centre and half back for 2010

I think we need to be more choosey on who we sign mid season from now on but i wouldn't rule certain signings out alltogther.

I remember Leeds signing Ali Lauititi mid season and if somebody if a similar quality ever became available i'd hope we'd be in for him.

Agreed that sigings like Phelps are pretty pointless though.

Absolutely ruling out signing mid-season would be stupid and in fairness after reading the article I agree with what Ian Lenegan has said. But the players have to be of the right quality. I mean just compare your example Ali Lautitit to Cameron Phelps.

I hope IL realises this - rumours linking us with players like Richard Moore and Ryan McGolderick are a waste of time.

Greg Bird would have been a good mid season signing for an English club but that wasn't to be.

Unless it's a frontline player who could get a regular game in the NRL we have enough quality in most positions in the reserves to not bother and promote from within.

I'm just not 100% sure Nobby would feel that way.

bird is playing this weekend

Cheers for the info.

The thing is players who are available mid season are up for grabs for a reason, probably because they are not wanted by another club or they have done something naughty hehe then they wont get a visa the way its going atm.

Not to mention there probably second raters

Anyone else for youth development?

Didn't Jamie Lyon and Quentin Pongia come mid season.

Pongia defo did but i don't think Lyon did.

I thought he signed for Saints in the off season we got Vaealiki but i could be wrong.

I think Saints had announced his signing mid season but he was signing for the next season. Same as we did with DV.

I still say DV was better

Interesting quote from IL in that article: "Players who are not getting on with their coaches."

Is there a veiled hint in there somewhere, or, out of sheer devilry, am I looking to seed the rumour bed even more?

Whenever Wigan aren't playing well there's always rumours about "dressing room unrest", "the coach losing the dressing room" and there has been this year. The fact that IL has mentioned it in this article would make me think it's a veiled threat to one or two 'bad eggs'.

Or possibly he's suggesting that someone somewhere else is having problems, and may be approachable in due course?

I would think this is a sign he would back Noble in getting rid of the "bad apples" and this was a subtle way of reminding them of the fact.

Some people say signing mid season is far better, but Carmont has been our best signing for afew years and he was pretty late, its more important to get the right deal IMO.

I do understand though that if you want to sign a big name player, you will probably have to be in for them ASAP.

Ian Lenagan also mentioned that they were looking around for the 2010 season. Signings for the following year are now being made in the June - August period. Carmont who signed sometime November is considered "late".
Whichever way it is done we need better quality players for 2010 if the squad is to improve.
Question is for me, will we improve this year?
Last year we lost more than we won in the regular season.
Will that be reversed this year with more wins than losses?
Hope so!

I think this season will be pretty much the same as the last 2

Inconsistent in the league
Half decent position in the league
Good run in play offs and CC

I don't think the recruitment pre season was good enough for us to improve significantly

A very talented young prop forward whose coming off contract - will no doubt be an international player soon: Louie McCathy-Scarsbrook

Watmough in trouble for slapping a sponsor.

Great player. Would improve our pack, Would he get a visa? - probably go to France.

Wouldnt mind him slapping our ex-sponsor!

[urlhttp://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/watmough-slaps-sponsor/2009/03/07/1235842667742.html[/url

I'm sure that he is only in the second year of a four year contract

I thought OOC end of this year...

Could of swore he signed a four year contract before lenegan took over us